Exam 9: Excuses

The early common law did not recognize infancy as a defense to criminal prosecution.

The inability to distinguish between reality and fantasy is known as ______.

Defendants who rely on the ______ defense typically are required to provide notice to the prosecution; then the defendant is subject to an examination.

The ______ defense argues that a foreign-born defendant was following his or her culture and was understandably unaware of the requirements of the American law.

What is the difference between the abuse excuse and the rotten social background defense?

Which test asks but for the actions of the government would the defendant have broken the law?

All of the following are ways in which voluntary intoxication can occur EXCEPT ______.

Issac is charged with a specific intent crime yet he claims his voluntary use of alcohol prevented him from forming the specific intent required by statute. If he is successful in his argument what is the most likely outcome?

Mary was recently diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. She has been prescribed a strong painkiller by her doctor. She has never taken painkillers before and she is unaware of how they will affect her. After the first dose she begins hallucinating. Believing that her neighbor, who is outside tending to her garden, is actually an escaped unicorn, she attacks the neighbor and ties her up and calls animal control. If she is charged with a crime, what defense might she successfully utilize?

With regards to entrapment, the ______ test focuses on the conduct of the government rather than the character of the defendant.

At common law, there is an irrefutable presumption of infancy for which category of individuals?

What is the difference between voluntary intoxication and involuntary intoxication?

What is the difference between mistake of fact and mistake of law?

The ______ defense is used by women who have a drop in hormonal levels following the birth of a child.

An underage defendant may use the juvenile defense on the grounds that he or she is too young to ______.

Duress excuses the intentional taking of the life of another.

The most common mental disorder or defect that results in legal insanity under the ______ test for insanity is psychosis.

M'Naghten is criticized for focusing on the mind and failing to consider emotions.

The ______ has been used as an excuse for homicide based on the argument that the chemicals used in lawn care resulted in the involuntary intoxication of the defendant.

Joclyn and her son do not have a good relationship. She recently divorced his father, and the boy, who is just 7 years old, chose to go live with him instead of her. Joclyn and her ex do not have a custody agreement in place at this time, but he regularly allows her to see the son whenever she desires. The boy does not enjoy his visitation. The boy dislikes his mother so much, for no apparent reason, that he demanded his father take her life. The boy threatened him and said if he did not cooperate, he would kill the father instead and go off on his own. He is a feisty 7-year-old. The father, afraid for his own life, makes an elaborate plan to kill Joclyn and attempts to take her life. She manages to live through the attack and has reported it to the police. Will the ex-husband be able to successfully utilize the defense of duress?